Refrigeration apparatus



' Jan. 15, 1935 HAMMELL 1,987,739

REFRIGERATION APPARATUS -F1"'1ed Oct. 16, 1951 2-Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 15, 1935. K M, HAMMELL 1,987,739

REFRIGERATI ON APPARATUS Filed Oct. 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 I I I I 2+ --aa I I I I I I I I I g 27 g A F I I v I 40- 5 F165 FIG 7 Patented Jan. 15,1935

UNITED [STATES PATENT orFlca REFRIGERATION arrana'rns 'Kemper Martel Hammell, Minster, Ohio Application mm 16. 1931, Serial No. 569,248

12 Claims. (01. 62115) Another object of my invention is to provide clamped directly to the frame 14. A rubber, a refrigeration apparatus that eliminates the use fibrous, or any suitable vibration absorbing maof reducing or expansion valves. terial 16 is fastened to the motor flange 15. This Another object of my invention is to provide vibration absorbing material 16 is in turn fastened a refrigeration apparatus that will allow the moto the frame 14 by means of the bolts 1'1 altor to start under a very light load and gradually though any other suitable method of fastening buildup its load without the use of valves or the vibration absorbing material may be used. other complicated mechanism generally used to To the motor shaft 19 is fastened a hub with a allow the motor to attain normal speed before flanged portion 18. Fig. 3 shows one method the load is applied. h of fastening this flanged member to the motor 10 Another object of my invention is to provide an shaft so the motor may be removed without apparatus that reduces vibration and noise. breaking the seal or disturbing the remainder of 7 Another object of my invention is to provide a the system. The flanged member 18 is fastened refrigeration apparatus that is compact, and at to the drum 10 so there is a direct connection bethe same time efllcient. tween the motor shaft 19 and the drum 10. The 15 with these and other objects in view, my indrum 10 is composed ofa compressor and convention consists in the arrangements, construcdenser. Figs. 1 and 4 show the compressor comtion, and combination of the various parts of my posed of helical blades 21. When the drum roimproved device as describedin the specification, tats, these blades act'as a centrifugal pump, a claimed in the claims and illustrated in the accompressing the vapor and discharging the com- 20 companying drawings. pressed vapor into the outer portion of the drum In the drawings: 10 which is the condenser. Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially in sectiomof Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic sketch of a piston a refrigeration apparatus. embodying my impump that may be used for a compressor If this a proveinents in a simple form. P type of compressor is used, the crank shaft 42 Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 is stationary and the piston 43 rotates with the of Fig. ishowing one type of sealing means that drum 10. When the piston is on the suction may be used in this type of refrigeration appastroke, the valve 41, will be open and vapor from ratus. j p the passageway 22 will enter the cylinder. Dura Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view-taken along ing this time, the valve 40 is closed. On the the line 3--3 of Fig. 1 showing a means for concompression stroke, valve 41 is closed, the vapor nectlng the motor to the system. is compressed, and the valve 40 opens and dis- Fig. 4 is a sectional view, takenalong the line charges the compressed vapor in the outer por- 44, of Fig. 1, showing the blades orvanes in the tion of the drum 10 which is the condenser. The a compressor and the flnsin the'conde'nser. outer portion of the drum is separated from the Fig. 5 is a topview of the blade used to keep inner portion by means ofa wall 44. In this wall the gas or vapor from whirling in the passageway or partition is placed a valve 45 and valve seat 46. leading to the compressor. This valve has appreciable weight and is held on Fig. 6 embodies another improvement in my the'seat during the rotation of drum 10 by] means a invention. of centrifugal force. As 50011338 the drum 10V 40 Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic sketch of another type p Valve 0118115 d the condensed refrigof'compressor that maybe used'inmy invention. erant flows back to pas 228ml into e viii- In the drawings I have shown at 13, a portion of DO If. a C fugal pumpis used, a a refrigeration box which may be of any suitable ype f blades may be used orfany ther p 1' a 45 construction, within which is placedthe .vapor- D p h as 'gear pump or rotary pump m y 45 izer or'cooling element 11. The remainder of the be used a compressorrefrigeration apparatus may plaged in 3, Sep- In the outerportion 0f the drum 1081'8 located arate compartment which is integralfwith the a number This Portion li refrigeration boxofr insulated cabinet 13, or it, the condenser. These flns are fastened alter-- may be placed on the outside of the same. In nately to the upper an l wer S Of h drum 10 the drawings I have shown this mechanism ar- 50 that the compressed'vapor w l be deflected ranged on the top of the box. It comprises a against the walls of the drum as it pa a frame 14, supporting an electric motor 12, and the the periphery of the drum 10. The vapor heated rotating compressor and condenser 10, being conduring compression is, by said arrangement of- 5 nected therewith. The electric motor 12, is not fins 23, passed over a large area of metal which rial 30.

absorbs the heat and conducts it to the outer surface of the drum where the heat is absorbed by the air coming in contact with the surface of said drum. The vapor condenses in the outer portion of said drum and passes through the tube 24 to the passageway 22 and then into the vaporizer 1 1. The openings 25 are also passageways for the condensed refrigerant to flow to compressor and then follow the spiral path of the pump blades 21 into the passageway 22 and back to the vaporizer 11. The tube 27 is fastened to the drum 10 and extends into the tube 29 forming the passageway 22 which connects the compressor and vaporizer. In order to seal the space between the rotating tube 2'7 and the stationary tube 29, an annular cup 26 is fastened to last said tube and is partially filled with a non-volatile liquid, a conical shaped member 28 is fastened to the tube 27 and dips into the liquid in the annular cup 26 as shown in Fig. 1. Thus a sealed passageway is formed between the compressor and the vaporizer. Other suitable types of seals may be used for sealing the refrigeration system.

The vaporizer 11 is'a metal container which may or may not have external radiator fins and internal bafiie plate to guide the convection currents of the refrigerant. The vaporizer 11 is held in position by brackets 31 which are fastened to the refrigerator box 13. The vaporizer 11 may have pockets for drawers 32 for freezing water and desserts. The refrigerator box 13 has an-opening through which tube 29 extends and the remainder of which is filled with a suitable packing mate- Said opening allows the annular cup 26 to readily pass through the refrigerator box 13 when the cooling element or vaporizer is placed into or taken out of position.

A baflle'33 shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5 prevents the vapor from rotating while it passes through the rotating tube 27 and into the pump inlet. This baflie 33 may be of any shape tha prevents this rotation.

A thermostatic motor switch is placed near the outer surface of the cooling element 11 and is controlled by means of a knob 34. This knob so controls the thermostat that a desired substantially constant temperature is maintained in the refrigerator box. Y

The motor and rotating drum are enclosed in the inverted can or case 35 which is lined with a sound absorbing material 36. The sound absorbing material tends to absorb any noise made by the motor 12, the rotating drum 10 or the fins 38.

The opening 37 is to allow air circulation about drum 11 for cooling.

The fins 38 in Fig. 6 are fastened to the outer side of drum 10 to aid circulation of air about the drum. Any type of fins that agitate the air sufliciently may be used. I

When the machine first is set up or the seal broken, the air must be expelled from the apparatus. To do this, the machine is assembled with the proper amount of refrigerant in the vaporizer 11. The motor 12-is then turned on, thus causing the drum 10 to rotate; The action of the pump tends to produce a vacuum in the vaporizer 11, causing the refrigerant to evaporate and displace the air in the drum l0. During this time, the plug 39 is not in position so that the air is expelled through the opening from which plug 39 was removed. As soon as the air has been expelled. the plug 39 is inserted. thus sealing the apparatus. The apparatus is then ready for operation.

When the machine is to be operated, the motor must be connected to the proper electric circuit. Due to the temperature, the thermostatic switch will be closed so the armature of the motor will begin to rotate and cause the drum 10 to rotate. Vaporized refrigerant is drawn into the pump from passage 22 and is discharged into the outer cools the remaining refrigerant and the vaporizer. This action continues until the temperature about the thermostat reaches a predetermined point. At that time the thermostat switch is automatically opened and the motor ceases to cause the drum to rotate.

During rotation, liquid refrigerant is continuously returned to the vaporizer 11 through the tube 24. Means for preventing vapor from returning through tube 24 may be used. Upon ceasing of rotation, the remainder of the liquid refrigerant in the condenser fiows to the pump through passages 25, through the passage be tween vanes of said pump, then down the passage 22 into the vaporizer 11.

As soon as the temperature about the thermostat rises to a predetermined point, the thermostat automatically closes the motor switch thus causing the motor to rotate the drum l0 and the cycle is repeated.

The knob 34 is used to regulate the thermostat so that any desired temperature can be maintained within the refrigerator box.

There are several refrigerants that can be used in my refrigeration apparatus such as carbon disulphide or carbon tetrachloride. The refrigerant should have a comparatively large molecular weight so that the vapor given off is heavy, as a heavy gas can be condensed more readily in my type of apparatus.

While I have described several embodiments of my invention, -I do not wish to be limited to the particular forms shown and described as it will be apparent that many modifications therein may be made without departing from the scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a refrigeration system, a rotating condenser, a compressor within said condenser, and

. a stationary vaporizer or cooling unit.

2. In a refrigeration system, a stationary vaporizer and aunit comprising a compressor and condenser, said unit being rotated by a means of a motor and having communication with said stationary vaporizer or cooling element.

3. In a refrigeration system, a motor driven drum; said drum comprising Y a reciprocating pump and condenser, said drum communicating with a stationary cooling unit or vaporizer, said condenser having a baflled vapor passageway.

4. In a refrigeration system, a rotating unit, comprising a compressor and a condenser and a stationary unit comprising a vaporizer.

5. In a refrigerator comprising an insulated cabinet, a compressor outside of said insulated cabinet, motor'ior rotating said compressor, said compressor having a passageway leading into said insulated cabinet and communicating with a vaporizer, a portion of said passageway being comprised of a rotating cylinder, means extending axially into said rotating cylinder to keep the gas from rotating within said rotating cylinder.

6. In a refrigeration system, the combination of a stationary vaporizer and a motor directly connected to a drum, said drum comprising a compressor and condenser, said drum having a passage for feeding vapor to said compressor and a passage for returning condensate tosaid stationary vaporizer or cooling element.

'1. In a refrigerator comprising an insulated cabinet, a drum outside of said insulated cabi-' net, motor for rotating said drum, said drum having a passageway leading into said insulated cabinet and communicating with a stationary vaporizer within said insulated cabinet, a thermostatic element within said insulated cabinet controlling the operation of said motor in order to maintain a substantially constant selective temperature within said insulated cabinet.

rotating said drum, said drum having a compressor near its center and having fins spaced between said compressor and the periphery of said drum, a passageway connecting said drum to a vaporizer or cooling element, a portion of 5 said passageway being composed 01' a rotating cylinder and the remainder being composed of a stationary cylinder, means for sealing the open ing between said rotating cylinder and said stationary cylinder, means for removing said rotatl0 ing means without disturbing said sealing means.

10. In a refrigeration system, a drum, means for rotating said drum, said drum having a compressor near its center and having fins spaced between said compressor and the periphery of said drum, a tube or passageway leading from said drum, said tube having a circular. memberdipping into an annular cup containing liquid, said annular cup being connected to a tube leading to a vaporizer, said tube forming a sealed passageway connecting said compressor and said vaporizer.

11. In a refrigeration system having arotating unit, comprising a compressor and condenser and a stationary unit, comprising a vaporizer or cooling unit, said rotating unit being encased, said encasement having means for admitting external air for cooling said rotating unit.

12. In a refrigeration system having a rotating unit, comprising a compressor and condenser, and a. stationary vaporizer or cooling unit, said rotating unit communicating'with said stationary vaporizer or cooling element, said rotating unit having means on its outer side for air circulation.

KEMPER MARTEL HAMMELL. 

